Thursday, December 27, 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, we made it through the holidays . . . almost . . heading over to my parents tomorrow to open presents (again!). We didn't get a chance to see them on Christmas, so we're going over for the night tomorrow. The boys are very excited . . .they love it anytime they can take a ferry ride to Nana and Papa's!

Hope everyone had a great holiday. I just got some new CTMH product in the mail and have more coming next week . . . getting very ansy to PLAY!! Hopefully I'll get a chance to get some stuff together and get it posted here next week . . so STAY TUNED!

Meanwhile, take your time . . view my previous posts, post a comment and enjoy my music playlist! It's my favorite part of my blog! I'll log on and minimize my blog while I surf other sites just so I can hear the music! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's to great inspiration in 2008!

Friday, December 21, 2007

We're dreaming of a WHITE CHRISTMAS

Well, it doesn't look like we'll be getting any snow for Christmas this year. Forecast calls for RAIN . . surprise, surprise! But these pictures of the boys playing in the snow a few weeks ago sure looks nice. Maybe I'll just make one of these my screensaver and we can look at it on Christmas Day! Things are getting pretty hectic around here as we near the big day, so if I don't make it back before the 25th, Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Call me crazy . . no, just nostalgic!!

Ok . . so if you are lucky enough to have your speakers on and can hear my music list play as you are reading through my blog, you may have the privilege to hear "Wake me up before you go-go . . . " You know . . George Michael (WHAM) "jitterbug . . jitterbug . . " LOL!!!

I just had to put this on my playlist because everytime I hear this song it takes me back to my college days at the University of Alaksa, Fairbanks. It reminds me of dear friends who have fallen out of touch . . . and it makes me smile EVERYTIME I hear it . . no matter where I am or what I'm doing. Honestly, when the song starts I can see my old dorm room, remember walking down the hallway . . . it's amazing what music can do! So, if you snicker when you hear "jitterbug" and cringe . . . just know that I'm smiling all the way back to 1986!! Ha ha ha ha!!

Monday, December 17, 2007

I don't know what got into me . . !?!?

In the last 2 nights, I have completed (well, almost completed . . . I still need to journal on 2 of them and am waiting for supplies that should be here within the next couple of days) 3 single page layouts and one double page layout. I don't know what got into me! So, I thought I'd share my work . . . all the layouts are CTMH. I haven't received any of my new stuff yet (new Spring Idea Book has some GREAT new products - my first new order will be here tomorrow!!).

These photos DID NOT turn out very good, but I want to get these up . . so I'll try to retake them in the morning when the light is better. My poor camera might be the problem too . . . it's been DROPPED (oops!) several times!!

Cousins Sleepover:
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Halloween 2004 (still waiting for my Stickease to finish this . . and a little journaling):
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Rainy Day
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Quote on bottom of Rainy Day page:
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Raindrops made with liquid glass:
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Sorry the photos are so bad. Bummer . . .usually my camera takes better pictures. Maybe they'll look better in the morning light and I'll try again!




If you like what you see, please leave me a note. It's nice to hear comments from friends and fellow scrappers! Hope you enjoy the pages as much as I do.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

It's been a while . . .

It's been a while since I've posted anything. I was checking out other blogs today and most of them are updated so regularly . . . makes me think maybe I should let this one go, but, what the heck. Doesn't cost me anything and as long as I can remember my password (took my 2 hours today to finally get it right!!!) I might as well keep coming back.

I have been doing some holiday cards and have also made a couple of other projects lately. I'll try to photo and post them later today.

Our weather has been FRIGHTFUL here on the Olympic Peninsula. Not so bad in Port Angeles, but all around us was hit pretty severely. Lots of places just now starting to dry out . . flood waters receding . . yikes . .and it's not even WINTER yet!! The joys of winter in the Pacific Northwest!

More later . .I PROMISE!! :-)

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

I'm Still Here . . .

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here . . .I've been posting on the CTMH bb lately and haven't been paying much attention to my own blog. Here are a couple of Christmas cards I've done lately . . . I'm loving the liquid applique . . .

I'll try to update this more often in the meantime . . hope you enjoy the cards!

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Sunday, September 9, 2007

Recent Layouts - I've been busy!!

I'm feeling really good about getting some layouts done recently. I've done a couple of double page layouts and a couple of single page layouts. The double page layouts and the Play one with my son and a neighbor girl were all taken from Cherish and modified slightly. Enjoy!!!

This double page layout was of Mother's Day this year. My husband and our 2 boys took my mother, my mother in law and myself out to dinner. We took photos on our back porch before we left for dinner. The hanging flowers were mother's day gifts for all 3 of us moms!!

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This layout was just plain fun . . . my boys are always dressing up and they looked so cute when they were both dressed up like Spiderman. I had been waiting and waiting to get just the right stuff for this layout. I really like how it turned out!!

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I just did this layout today. My son plays with this neighbor girl everyday. I realized after I got it done that I really need to journal on this one, because it was so funny. They had been squirting each other with the hose until they were COMPLETELY SOAKED. Then, they got on the swing and just kept on playing, totally unconcerned that they were soaked and chilled to the bone! So, I need to find a spot to do a little journaling, but otherwise here it is . . .

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My son is bugging me to get off the computer so he can play some computer games . . so I'd better let him have some time on the computer. I'll post the other layouts later this evening!!

Hostess Club Cards

Here are a couple of cards I did recently (both scraplifted from the CTMH idea book and bb). I love the pumpkin one . . . stamped on twill stickstock. The JOY card uses the old cocoa cafe paper from CTMH . . . I love this paper pack, but since it's not in the catalog I'm going to revise it using current paper for my Hostess Club.

Still to come some recent layouts I've been working on . . . .

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Thursday, September 6, 2007

One Week Down . . .

Whew . . . boy this back to school stuff is wearing me out! Listen to me . . .ha ha ha ha . . . you see we're not used to getting up early. I don't have to be to work until 11a.m. so rising at 6:30-7a.m. is something I haven't had to do since my second son was born - going on 3 years ago!!!

But we've almost made it through the first week. I have managed in the last couple of weeks to get some layouts done though . . that is a huge accomplishment for me. I've had so much fun using my Cherish book (Close To My Heart). It sure makes getting caught up on photos quick and easy! I'll post some photos tomorrow (my day off!).

Hope all my readers have had a good first week back to school with their kids. We've almost got it down to a routine now! Another week and we'll be set . . maybe I could do one of those Our Routine layouts . . . that would be fun to look back on in 10 years!! LOL . .

More tomorrow!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Daily Card Challenge - "Balance" & "Strong"

Well, I'm a little behind . . . "Balance" was from Day 8. But I got up a couple hours before the kids this morning so I had a chance to do a couple of cards ~ yeeahhhh!

My thoughts on BALANCE: It seems I always have so many things going on at once . . . with the kids, school activities, swimming, CTMH gatherings, workshops, teaching card classes, trying to keep up my garden (mostly veggies - I only plant perennials now so I just have to upkeep them!), being a wife, mother, my job (I own my own children's and maternity shop ~ new & used~ and take my kids to work with me!), trying to enjoy off time - vacations, camping . . . always trying to squeeze everything in. And then I think I can do all of these custom crafty things like making personalized baby announcements to order, creating new items to sell at my shop, etc. I just don't know when to quit - whew! Oh yeah, and then there's housework . . hmmm . . always forget that one!

So, trying to balance everything and not neglect anything is sometimes difficult. From time to time, I have to remind myself of what the most important things are (my family) and let everything else go. But I love creating things and trying to come up with unique, sellable ideas for my business. It's an ongoing balance act . . . hence my card . . ;-)

Something I realized when I looked at my card after I created it, was the playfulness of the design - the teeter-totter, sunshine, grass - it all emits FUN and RELAX!!! So that must be where my resting place is . . my comfort zone . . .playing with my kids and husband, in our yard, enjoying the good times and letting everything else go, if only just for little bits at a time! We all NEED that!

(P.S. Thanks to Allison for helping me to solve the "blurriness" problem with my photo taking!!)

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The word for Day 7 was "Strong."

I immediately thought of my husband. He emits strength . . not only physicial, but he is my strength. He is the one that keeps me grounded when my head gets in the clouds. He lets me enjoy my crafts even though it is sometimes stressful for him. He works 2 jobs - for the State as a day job and as a self-employed building contractor on the weekends. So he works 40 hours+ for the State and then numerous hours on evenings and weekends doing construction jobs.

He is always the one to say . . ."let's go camping!" or "let's go on a picnic!" He is always finding things for our family to do that keep us strong together.

He also emits physical strength - he was a commercial fisherman for years - you should see his hands . . .they're HUGE! Our youngest son is going to be built just like his daddy!

I tried to keep the card simple because that is him. He really is a simple man. I think he would approve of this card, even though he always just smiles and says nothing when I show him my work!

The 4 brads on the corners of the card represent our family (my husband, our 2 sons and myself) and the cord ties us all together. The brads and cord also have an analogy (anchor & rope) to his fishing days. He still loves to fish and hunt, although he doesn't get the time to enjoy it like he used to. I try to encourage him to take some time to do what he enjoys to do, but his main focus is our family and keeping us safe and comfortable. And isn't he GORGEOUS!!

He is, and will always be, my strength and my soulmate!


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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Will I EVER catch up?

Yes . . it's me . . posting without a photo - aaahhhhh! We went camping for 3 days last weekend and I came home to be 4-5 daily cards behind. I still haven't caught up. Haven't even had a chance to sit down and play! Tomorrow is my day to post at least 1 and maybe more of the cards I've missed.

I love thinking about and creating the cards, so even though I'm feeling really behind, I still want to go back and do the ones I've missed. I want to have the complete set of 52 when I'm done and have fun remembering all the things that made me scrap my daily card in the first place . . .so keep your fingers crossed . . hopefully they'll be a new post here tomorrow! Goodnight . . .

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

My "Nest"

Ok . . so here's my card . . . I apologize for the terrible photo . . .can't seem to avoid the blurriness in these shots ~ Bummer!

Little explanation - "nest" made me think of my home . . my "nest." So the birds nest in the tree branch represents my home. . . the 4 eggs in the nest (made from cutting ribbon into egg shapes! - cute idea thought of by lil' ol' me!) represent my family - my husband, my 2 boys and myself! Anyway, there it is! Hope you like it!

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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Daily Word Challenge - "Nest"

When I first read Pam's word of the day this morning I was stumped . . . I initially thought of a bird's nest . . . hmmmmm. . . what to do with THAT!?!

I didn't have time to work on my card this morning, so off to work I went (Tuesday is my full day at the shop and the boys are with me all day). It was a looooong day! We zipped out of the shop at 6:00pm, came home, made dinner, ate, made cupcakes, played and then *whew* the boys and my husband all crashed! So, I pulled up the word of the day again and got to work. I realized my "nest" was my home and I went with that.

I threw away 2 attempts at cards before I got one I liked enough to post. . . but, alas, it's after 11pm now and the light is bad so I will have to take a photo in the morning and post it! It actually turned out pretty cute! Check back in the a.m. for my "Nest." Now I can crash ~ g'night all!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Daily Word Challenge - "Childhood"

I immediately thought of my kids when this word came up today (rather than my own childhood - much too far in the past!!). I found this photo of my youngest son and thought it fit my idea of childhood perfectly - carefree, play, happiness!. Sorry for the simplicity of my cards . . but it's easy and I want these to be quick, first thought projects not projects that take me all day. Hope you like it!

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Daily Word Challenge - "Wander"

I tried to post this last night . . . I was up until after midnight playing with this one . . .but my computer went to sleep on me! I love this challenge . . I am having so much fun.


There is no hidden meaning in this one . . . just thought of autumn and wandering through the fall colors . . hence the goldrush, chocolate and autumn leaves (I got cheap ones at J's because I haven't ordered my CTMH ones yet)!


My cards seem much simpler than others I've seen, but I am having a blast and CAN'T WAIT for the next word!!!


Wander . . . and enjoy!

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

Daily Word Challenge - "Seek"

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This is the first challenge I've participated in. If you haven't joined in this one, you should check it out. It's on Pammie's blog (see my Places I Visit list).

I jumped on this challenge because it's small, simple, daily projects that I think I can accomplish. Sometimes it's hard for me to find time to work on projects (between work, kids, housework, etc.), but I believe this one is doable! Plus, I think it will be good for me to do a little soul searching - I hope to achieve some self-discovery along the way! I am looking forward to this one . . thanks, Erica, for posting the original challenge and to Pam for hosting it!

Hello!

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog! I was inspired this morning to create a place to share artwork, ideas, etc. with my friends and fellow crafters!

Please be patient with me as I learn to navigate this blog. . . I've been on here for an hour already and am not making much progress!

Please stop by and visit again . . .I'll try to get some of my cards and layouts posted. Please join my blog and visit often!

More to come . . .